Sony’s new LinkBuds add voice controls without a smart assistant

Sony announced new versions of its LinkBuds wireless headphones with “improved wearability” and built-in volume controls, making it easier to keep them in your ears all day long. both new LinkBuds On And LinkBuds Fit Available for pre-order today for $199.99 along with a new product LinkBuds Speaker It will debut at $179.99, limited to the US market.

First announced in early 2022, the original Sony LinkBuds featured a unique “open ring design” that bypassed the sound-isolating ear tips for the ring-shaped speaker, allowing ambient sounds to be heard at all times. The new version, now known as LinkBuds Open, features a similar but smaller design with a new 11-millimeter speaker to increase volume and bass performance. Sony also includes redesigned silicone wings called “Air Joint Supports” that Sony says will reduce pressure points and make the headphones more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time.

With voice control features built right into the LinkBuds Open, you can now adjust volume, skip tracks, and change ANC modes without having to ask Siri or Google Assistant to do it for you. This also means voice controls can be used when connected to devices that don’t have their own voice-activated assistant, such as consoles or in-flight entertainment systems.

The LinkBuds Open’s battery life is now eight hours with the earbuds alone, or 22 hours total with the charging case (previously 5.5 hours and 17.5 hours), while a three-minute quick charge provides up to an hour of music playback. To further extend battery life, Sony is adding a new “automatic battery saver” option that turns off features like EQ settings, chat conversation, and volume controls when the headphones’ battery drops below 20 percent.

LinkBuds Open comes with Bluetooth 5.3, offers multi-device connectivity and supports SBC, AAC and LC3 codecs. Sony says the headphones now feature the same V2 chip as the flagship WF-1000XM5 headphones and offer a more stable connection with devices.

The new LinkBuds Fit is a smaller and lighter version of the LinkBuds S, launching in mid-2022 as an alternative to the original LinkBuds for those who want ANC. The new Fit comes with shorter ear tips and Sony’s “Air Link Supporters” similar to those found on the LinkBuds Open, to help better distribute the weight of the earbuds around the ear.

Their smaller size comes with a sacrifice in battery life for the buds: now 5.5 hours instead of six. However, when the LinkBuds Fit is paired with the charging case, overall battery life increases from 20 hours to 21 hours with the same fast charging capabilities as the LinkBuds Open.

The new Fit also includes the V2 processor in Sony’s WF-1000XM5 headphones, powering both ANC and ambient sound modes. The Fit also inherits Dynamix Driver Sony’s LDACenables streaming of higher quality High Definition audio.

If you want to customize the LinkBuds Fit’s look, Sony will also sell “Air Fitting Supporters” for $9.99 in a variety of alternative colors, including ash pink, ash green, and pure black, as well as a $19.99 silicone cover. charging case in matching tones.

Sony is expanding its LinkBuds line with the new LinkBuds Speaker, designed to complement wireless headphones. Featuring a single tweeter and woofer paired with a passive radiator, the speaker includes a charging dock; Sony says battery life is up to 25 hours at medium volume or up to six hours at maximum volume.

What sets the LinkBuds Speaker apart from Sony’s other wireless speakers is the new Auto Switch mode, which can automatically switch playback from the headphones when you get close enough. Compatible models include the new LinkBuds Fit and Open, older LinkBuds S, and Sony’s WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5 headphones. So, if you’re listening to music and heading to the kitchen for a snack, you might want to let the music switch to the speaker and give your ears a rest.

LinkBuds Speaker includes a microphone that can be used as a speakerphone, a button to start streaming music from your preferred service, and daily routines that can be scheduled via a mobile app; so you can use it as an alarm clock. Available in a gray or black finish, but with limited IPX4 splash resistance, it’s designed mostly for indoor use away from bad weather or the risk of diving into the pool.